[center][h3][color=c2b280]Fleo Plector[/color][/h3] [@Caits][@Burthstone][@Joshua Tamashii][@Roseletta][@TechnoWizROK][@t2wave][@Zarkun][@Lunarlors34][/center] Stories of other worlds never ceased to captivate. A war between angels and demons, a fated tournament, a gathering of warriors from distant realms, the trials of a young band of heroes...with every page Fleo turned, she couldn't help but read on. In the months since the end of the Grand Magic Games, Amaya hadn't been the only member of Phoenix Wing to nurse an interest in books. Fleo's newfound hobby, healthy for the stimulation of her mind had occupied much of her off time. Hers was a busy life, full of work and getting to know her fellow workers. Today began as a day seemingly like any others, but after her ordinary morning routine of exercise, hygiene, and breakfast, her day was shaken -quite literally- to its core. [color=c2b280]”Whoa!”[/color] The tremor threw her, perched as she was atop the new heels of which she was so proud, to the ground. Her frayed, bold-print longcoat slapped across her head, and more irritated than hurt she pushed it away to get back to her feet. Without delay she examined the Guild Hall's first floor. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, except of course that pretty much everyone had been spooked by the sudden and severe earthquake. In doing so, she took a closer look at those present. There appeared to be quite the colorful assortment of people here today, including a few that Fleo was surprised to notice were strangers. When had that happened? Had over-the-top craziness become so commonplace in Phoenix Wing life that she had learned to tune it out whilst reading? Speaking of, the dusty woman knelt to retrieve her paperback from where it landed. Her furrowed brow spoke of her consternation: clearly, something was happening, but she hadn't been paying attention. Making an effort to appear composed and attentive, she turned her attention to Ariel with intent to answer, but Damian beat her to he punch. [color=c2b280]”Well, yeah, but that doesn't help much.”[/color] Penny echoed the sentiment, and then in a rather odd tone added that such happenings were occurring throughout Fiore. [color=c2b280]”Wait, how do you know?”[/color] Bereft of an answer, Fleo could only turn her attention to Sasha as she walked over and said something cryptic. Thoroughly confused, Fleo held her hands up. [color=c2b280]”Why is everyone being so weirdly dramatic? Was that not just a normal tremor, like we've been having for months?”[/color] Ariel shared her confusion, and for clarity's sake Fleo strode to her friend's side to stand with her bandaged hands on her hips, even as her companion sat. Instead of a reply, she received a blast of wind as the front doors flew open, and in the very center stood a showy guy with scruffy long hair and an opinion of himself so large that Fleo regretted that it didn't block the door and prevent his entry. The next moment, after fixing her hair and clothes, she caught herself and shook her head. [i]Some people are just insanely emotive,[/i] she reasoned, [i]like half the people in this guild. Which is probably why this dude came here. It's my responsibility to give him a good impression.[/i] Waving her hand, she offered Nico a smile, and called out, [color=c2b280]”Hello!”[/color] A proper introduction, however, could wait. Mayt seemed intent on getting the story from Sasha, and with Amaya, Raiden, and Joshua also present, Fleo felt as if an explanation were owed. However, Sasha and Pennys' revelations were delayed once again as the doors exploded open again for the second time in about as many minutes. A sarcastic comment lay on the tip of Fleo's tongue -hanging out with a platoon of wisecrackers had begun to mold her after this long, after all- until she recognized the new entrant as nobody less than the prestigious and pissed-off master of some other guild, Fraquar. Wisely, Fleo opted to put a lid on it, and left her master to answer that. Soon after, to Fleo's great relief, Penny began to talk. Her speech, however, revolved solely around some new development with her Phoenix Magic. When it was done, the dusty woman could scarcely contain herself any longer. [color=c2b280]”...Huh? I must be missing something. What's going on?”[/color] Head abuzz, she decided to pull up her own chair as well, and to sit with a dazed expression until the current situation became less baffling. [center][h3][color=8F9779]Cormorant Sanders[/color][/h3] [@Caits][@Burthstone][@Joshua Tamashii][@Roseletta][@TechnoWizROK][@t2wave][@Zarkun][@Lunarlors34][/center] Above Magnolia, a dark shape cast a wide shadow. Those who looked up, and managed to not be blinded by wonder, fear, or the sun, would find to their amazement the impossible shape of a ship in the sky. It floated, light as a dream and swift as a breeze, toward Phoenix Wing's guild hall. On its side, two symbols hinted at just what the meaning of this airbound vessel might be: the dual insignias of Pirate Lord and Frenzy Plant, the former redone in the latter's colors of green, black, and red. Coasting at an easy pace, the airship came to a stop in front of the guild hall, shielding the entire structure from the sun. A trumpet pierced the day's serenety -a peace already shattered by the repeated attacks on the structure's front door- and from the bottom of the ship a section of the hull began to descend. As it went lower, it could be identified as a platform suspended by chains from above, with three famous silhouettes on board. Motionless, the trio stood while the platform was gingerly laid on the concrete before the eyes of of onlookers. Together, the three stepped from the length of wood onto the cobblestone and marched toward the agape doors of Phoenix Wing's headquarters. Most recognizable was, of course, the grandmaster general of the war guild Frenzy Plant, Cormorant Sanders himself. Clad in an impeccable but unadorned uniform and bearing a cane decorated to look like a thorny vine, he sauntered forward flanked on either side by two guards. Owen Whately, the fencer of the badlands and half of the dynamic duo that wreaked havoc on the battlefield during the Grand Magic Games' free for all, stood to his commander's right, with the former piratess Jane Putcher on his own right. Somewhat in keeping with that theme, Sanders walked in time to the autumnal witch Blair Ravencroft and the well-dressed war sphinx Mari Gatlock. Each one wore the uniform of Frenzy Plant, though modified with include extra blue and white for the last two ladies to signify their belonging to Aerial Ace, the division of Frenzy Plant formerly known as the independent guild Pirate Lord. The merger, it seemed, had been long completed. With his entourage on his heels, Sanders entered the Phoenix Wing guild hall. There, he gave a slight bow to both Fraquar and Jamie in turn. [color=8F9779]”Fellow masters, I am pleased to see you once more,”[/color] his gentle voice affirmed.